I was in New York City this week and I visted the Vitra store (down at 9th Avenue at 14th Street) and around the corner was probably the coolest Design Within Reach store.
DWR:
I talked with a really nice saleswoman and we chatted about the biz in general, and she showed me the Nelson daybed that DWR got commissioned from Herman Miller as (as she called it) an exclusive for DWR. She also said that Modernica was so angered by this that they are no longer selling the bubble lamps to DWR as of this week!!
She also mentioned what I have thought for awhile; Modernica is a difficult company to deal with, anyhow. The NY design world was surprised when Modernica closed their Soho retail store and pulled out of New York in 2007.
Vitra:
The gal at Vitra was quite nice too, and we talked about the fact that the wonderful George Nelson exhibition catalog (which they had in stock) was available nowhere else in the US, and she was amazed that Vitra doesn't understand how many copies of this publication they could sell through Museum shops and select modern book stores around the country. I guess Vitra simply doesn't think of themselves to be in the book business.
I asked her why, since the Nelson exhibit got so much International press, Vitra hasn't bothered to reissue any new Nelson clocks, and she said, frankly, that it was surprising. Reissuing a couple of new clocks around last October (when the exhibition was up and running) would have sparked more interest in the available clocks and brought Vitra some sales action.
Oh well, Vitra also doesn't seem to know how to aggressively market themselves in that way.
All in all, going around to the modern shops, MOMA, etc. was terrific, despite the heavy rain.
Just talked
Just talked to my DWR friend about the Modernica stuff last week. I think it's hilarious that Modernica is getting pissed off that DWR for going after one of their more profitable pieces, especially since ALL Modernica does these days is copy profitable designs. Oh well... if you can't play well with others, get out of the sandbox!
And the way he described it, DWR went to Herman Miller and asked them to produce it, and Herman Miller said "we're not going to, but we don't mind if you do." So, not exactly commissioned, but I think its a fair move on DWR's part.
Absolutely right
DWR can only survive if they can compete with the competition by handling quality stuff not found elsewhere,
I've been told that Modernica's bubble lamps are less fragile than the originals, and they ARE properly lisenced....
But, ultimately, neither DWR or Modernica is especially good at self promotion. You would think that any DWR exclusives would be featured on their home page.
Barry. I've know the...
Barry.
I've know the people @ HM for quite some time. Modernica does not have the licensing from the Nelson Estate to do this - It's kind of a "turn your head and look away" type of thing. They are however produced at the same factory that Howard Miller contracted out to when they produced them - I believe the company is called Gossamer. Since no one else makes them, they basically have a monopoly, and thus "say" they have the license. It's tricky...regardless, they are made the same way the originals were in the same factory, just not by Howard Miller, and not with George Nelsons permission(although they use his name which is so weird to me)...I'm not sure why the Nelson estate has never done anything about this.
As for DWR being commissioned by Herman Miller...thats a load of bull if I've ever heard one. I certainly can't believe HM with their "get real" program would be ok with DWR producing their own version. DWR is making up stories to pass of their new line of knockoffs of their own products. They are trying to justify it...and it's not justifiable. Even if it's made high quality and they use Maharam fabric. Herman Miller actually has the daybed available for sale in Asia...it's just contracted from Vitra same as the Eames shells, etc. I'm not sure why they haven't done it here, but I can assure you if it was, it would be about $10,000 - cause that's how much it is in Europe. I'm guessing they have researched it and it's not cost effective for some reason or else they would have done it by now. As I've said before- HM for the Home is tiny...so they don't get alot of funding to bring new stuff in.
BTW, thanks for letting me know about the Nelson book - I'll call vitra and order one now. I searched online at the store you bought yours from Barry, and turned up nothing. Was it a special order? Can't wait to see it! I thought you were going to post alot of images from it?
Apparently DWR DID get permission from HM
to get the Nelson daybed produced.
Now...about the Bubble lamps...it's weird; the George Nelson.org website shows them freely, the Modernica website states that they're produced with full permission, etc.
Also, keep in mind that Herman Miller never had anything to do with the Nelson lamps or clocks. Howard Miller handled them but Rogers Morganthal (i.e. Raymor) actually was the distributor of both the Nelson lamps and clocks (not counting the lamps Nelson did with Koch & Lowry).
Of all the Modernica stuff currently being produced, all of the authorized Herman Miller stores and websites (Hive Modern, DWR, Sam Flax, Highbrow, etc.) freely sell the Nelson Bubbles from Modernica, yet none of them will touch the Modernica Grasshopper Chair, Case Study stuff, or the Eames Fiberglass chairs!
It's darn confusing.
Now, for the record, I own nothing from Modernica, so I'm not defending them in any way. I was pis*ed when I took the trouble to go down to SOHO to visit the Modernica store in New York two summers ago, only to find they had closed it. I did, however, enjoy going to the Maharam and Alessi stores down the street, though.
ahem.........
DWR is knocking-off heller with their "alonzo" chair, poltronoa frau with their "ray" chair and its safe to say that all of the "dwr design studio" stuff is absolute garbage.
as for this so called "nelson" day bed....... i am willing to bet anything that HM or Vitra never gave DWR their blessing to produce this, and it is less desirable in my opinion than the hair-pin leg version modernica makes.
why would DWR introduce something so similar, yet costs more and why would they alienate modernica to the degree modernica tells DWR they are no longer going to sell to them ?
my take is DWR didnt pay modernica and modernica cut them off...... it would not be in modernica's interest to lose DWR as a customer unless it was pretty drastic. similarly why would DWR alienate modernia to the degree they stopped shipping them the bread and butter bubble lamp ?
its a lose-lose and in my opinion could only have been brought about by DWR's arrogance and lack of payment. DWR lost 6 million dollars in the first quarter of 2009 alone and many vendors have stopped supplying them., i doubt the two situations are not merely coincidental.
the weight of 70 stores in crushing DWR to death and all the bright executives have abandoned ship leaving only the stooges with nary a clue digging a deeper and deeper hole.
fair enough..........
but they have really painted themselves into a corner and their current infrastructure is not sustainable. they either need to sell themselves or file chapter 11 re-organization......
the current DWR is really a diminished version of its former self..... and its current management is running it into the ground.
Chewbacca
Seriously, are you a former DWR employee? You've got a lot of design sense, but you come out with these baseless accusations - which "bright executives" have left DWR?...or are you speaking about yourself?
It's fine if you are. In fact, I think it would make your arguments much more persuasive if you had an inside understanding, but I think you should disclaim that so people can better understand your bias.
Otherwise I want to know why is it "safe to say" that the DWR Design stuff is garbage? IMO (and coming from a family of carpenters) the DWR daybed is much better constructed than the Modernica version. The Modernica version has a somewhat better spring system, but other than that it's just routed plywood. If you buy one Modernica marks out where the screws go, but you're left to drill it and screw it yourself. The DWR version is solid maple, has inset metal sockets that the legs/backrest screw into, and has Maharam upholstery. (and I'm looking at them unbiased: I find both of them hard as rocks so I'm not going to be buying either)
Other than checking out the new daybed (and a friend owning the Theater sofa - which is perfectly nice) I haven't explored much of their other offerings. The store closest to me doesnt have any of the new Risom designs - but I can't imagine Risom putting his name on something that was crap. So what's the basis for your opinon?
Also: Reactcreative - I couldn't find any listing of the Daybed on HermanMiller's website (the Asian version) nor could I find it on Vitra's Asian website. Where did you see it? I'd be curious to know what the differences are between the three versions.
I am actually a former DWR...
I am actually a former DWR employee - which is why I refrain from saying more (contractually obligated). No, the DWR Nelson daybed is not garbage, it's actually made quite nicely, probably better than Modernica honestly. That still doesn't make it ok. Just because you improve someones product, or design doesn't give you the right to make your own. I think Chewbacca knows more than he is leading on. I laugh because I think one day DWR will introduce a Eames Lounge & Ottoman they claim is better made than the original.
Check below for the link to the HM Nelson Daybed, also check out the site... http://www.hermanmiller.co.jp/en/product/index.html#?view=all&sort=category
They offer the Nelson Cube group still, the Nelson desk and executive cabinets, Eames Folding table, LaFonda chair, and Childrens Chair,
If Herman Miller gave DWR an ok to make their own daybed, don't you think they would toot their own horn on their website about it? They do about everything else. They don't, because that would be illegal - however, they can't keep their AE's from spouting out hearsay. HM would never authorize someone to make one of their products just because they don't want to reintroduce it. I used to be close with Mike @ HM. Thats how I know a lot of stuff about them as well. Here is something that you can do, because I've talked to them about doing it for my own future company.
If there is a HM piece they don't offer, they will license it to you (probably for a hefty fee) - You will work with them for quality, and on the re-engineering of the product to meet industry standards - it would actually be branded as Herman MIller product, it would just be your company putting up the costs for it, and of course it would be an exclusive piece to your company.
So - DWR could have done this themselves, but they'd have to pay HM a lot...and they didn't want to - so thats why I speculate its "influenced" by GN group.
Also, Barry. Modernica does NOT have the licensing for the bubble lamps...if you recall, Modernica made the ESU's in the 1990's for HM. During this time, Herman Miller for the home relaunched the bubble lamps in 1998 (read in this book - http://www.amazon.com/Herman-Miller-Purpose-John-Berry/dp/0847826546/ref...) - they were contracting Modernica to make them, just like the ESU's, but after their fallout with Modernica, Modernica kept making them...and thus have the "rights" to them.
To answer your question why Hive, DWR, Highbrow and other companies who have Knoll and Herman Miller don't sell the Case Study chairs, and split rail group it's because it's in their contracts.
http://www.hermanmiller.co.jp/en/product/nelson_day_bed.html
Oh those Japanese
with their love of all things weired and Modern. It's totally not fair that they get all the good stuff!
I still have my doubts about the daybed lineage. My friend at DWR has a good head on his shoulders; he's not some ditzy salesperson.
Anyway, the Japanese version looks pretty neat - it looks like the back cushions are deeper than both American versions (and a little closer to what I recall seeing in the HM Catalog reprint) And I really like how the legs run all the way back, instead of the individual feet of the Modernica version. Oh well, if I ever needed a stiff, unyielding place to lay down there is always the floor...
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